In Focus

Below are recent studies, reports, magazine articles, and other resources that MRSC has collected regarding local government topics.

All links go to external websites. Please note that these links were valid at the time of their original posting, but because websites and addresses may change, we cannot guarantee that all links still work.

Browse In Focus Articles by Topic

Government Agencies to Release Emergency Alerts on Facebook (September 13, 2019)
After a recent test with 350 agencies that included Miami Beach, Fla., the social media giant Facebook is making its emergency alerts tool available to any government page that wants to use it. More from Government Technology.

How Participatory Budgeting Can Help Cities Modernize Services (September 12, 2019)
Participatory budgeting and community engagement are advancing municipal operations by getting digital technologies purchased. More from EfficientGov.

Course Correction (September 11, 2019)
Once-popular public golf courses have become a strain on many cities’ budgets. Are municipal greens still up to par? More from Governing.

The Beginners Guide to Working with Elected Officials (September 10, 2019)
What you need if you want to develop an effective work relationship with your elected officials. More from ICMA Blog.

Who’s Ready for the Electric Moped Moment? (September 9, 2019)
Revel’s rentable motor scooters offer a faster brand of of zero-emission shared urban mobility. But to ride safely, cyclists need to learn some new skills. More from CityLab.

Top Local Workforce Challenges: Recruitment, Retention, Compensation (September 5, 2019)
New research finds that state and local governments continue to face challenges filling a wide array of positions. More from CitiesSpeak.

The Commuting Principle That Shaped Urban History (September 4, 2019)
From ancient Rome to modern Atlanta, the shape of cities has been defined by the technologies that allow commuters to get to work in about 30 minutes. More from CityLab.

How Drones Reduce Costs & Where to Find Grant Funding (September 3, 2019)
Dr. Judy Riffle explores drone costs and drone grants that can help fund for first responder uses. More from EfficientGov.

The Model Police Officer: Recruitment, Training, and Community Engagement (August 29, 2019)
ICMA's survey report on police recruitment, training, and community engagement from the perspectives of management, police administration, officers, human resources, and the community. Download the report.

What Do Local Leaders Need to Know about the FCC Cable Order? (August 27, 2019)
On August 1, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to approve a report and order that will make dramatic changes to cable franchises managed by state and local governments. The order, which will go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register, has two major components that will impact local governments. More from NLC's CitiesSpeak.

Ride-Hailing Could Boost Mobility Beyond Rich, Urban Areas (August 26, 2019)
Ride-hail services are used by a wide range of people around Los Angeles, suggesting that they might provide increased mobility in rural, suburban, and low-income areas. More from APA Blog.

What Body Cams Do: Policy, Discretion and Deeper Problems (August 23, 2019)
A look at how different police body camera policies can influence outcomes, and why some problems are just too deep to be solved by technology alone. More from Government Technology.

Why Speed Kills Cities (August 22, 2019)
U.S. cities are dropping urban speed limits in an effort to boost safety and lower crash rates. But the benefits of less-rapid urban mobility don’t end there. More from CityLab.

Denver Public Safety to Carry Food Items & Address Hunger (August 20, 2019)
As part of public safety service delivery under the Denver Opportunity Index, first responders will soon take an extra three minutes to address hunger. More from EfficientGov.

NLC Releases Affordable Housing Report (August 19, 2019)
The National League of Cities (NLC) recently released a comprehensive affordable housing report entitled “Homeward Bound: The Road to Affordable Housing,” focusing on the challenges and solutions communities are using to address the nation’s growing affordable housing crisis.

CityLab University: Zoning Codes (August 12, 2019)
Don’t know your R1 from your FAR? We’re here to explain how zoning laws work, how these ordinances shape your city and neighborhood, and why we fight over them. More from CityLab.

A New Kind of Arena Is Developing: Esports (August 9, 2019)
Real estate developers are constantly searching for the next trend that is just taking off or on the verge of exploding. Now some executives think they have found a good one: arena-like venues for professional video gamers. More from Urban Land.

Zoning: The Cause and the Cure for High Housing Prices (August 8, 2019)
An overview of "Zoning: The Cause and the Cure for High Housing Prices," from a recent issue of the Journal of the American Planning Association discusses the potential of changing zoning requirements to improve housing affordability in Los Angeles and other cities.

Landscape Changing Quickly for Aging Services (August 6, 2019)
More than two-thirds of older adults will need 3-5 years of services and support to help them age successfully, which will require some heavy lifting from counties. More from NACo's County News.

Transition Center Offers ‘One-Stop Shop’ for Released Inmates (August 5, 2019)
In Clackamas County, Ore., inmates who are being released from the county jail don’t have to look far to receive help transitioning back to life outside of prison. More from NACo's County News.

Homegrown Success (July 30, 2019) (August 2, 2019)
By focusing on their inherent advantages and assets, small towns in rural America are reaping the fruits of economic development. More from Planning.

County Branding Means More Than a Logo (August 1, 2019)
Branding your county is a time-consuming, deliberative process, but one that can unify residents in the end. More from NACo's County News.

U.S. Mayors: Cities Must Refuse to Pay Ransomware (Then What?) (July 31, 2019)
The U.S. Conference of Mayors says governments should refuse to pay ransom when systems are taken hostage. More from EfficientGov.

Ransomware Hits Everywhere, but Governments Pay 10 Times More (July 29, 2019)
Public-sector victims of ransomware that chose to pay forked over almost 10 times as much money on average as their private-sector counterparts over the second quarter of 2019. More from Statescoop.

Maps That Can Guide a Changing City (July 26, 2019)
The evolving technology of 'digital twins' can provide a dynamic, real-time view of the urban environment and the impact of ideas for improving it. More from Governing.

What Crisis? The Case for Not Panicking Over Pension Debt. (July 25, 2019)
New research released this week shows that even pension plans with big unfunded liabilities are likely to survive in the long term. More from Governing.

Giving Local Voters a Say in Tax Policy (July 24, 2019)
When revenues can't cover essential services, public officials would do well to engage residents in a dialogue about what's important to them. More from Governing.

Oregon Marijuana Surplus a Cautionary Tale for Other States (July 23, 2019)
Five years after Oregon legalized recreational marijuana, its lawmakers now are trying to rein in production, fearing the state’s big weed surplus will tempt some licensed businesses to sell their products out of state or on the illegal market. More from Stateline.

Seattle Inches Forward on Surveillance Tech Oversight (July 22, 2019)
The city’s look at surveillance technology comes at a time when jurisdictions around the U.S. are scrutinizing their own public-safety tools. More from Government Technology.

Podcast: Why Cities Are a Low-Hanging Fruit For Ransomware (July 18, 2019)
Ransomware attacks against local governments and cities are repeatedly making headlines, with crippling results on city operations and budgets. More from Threatpost.

Will Up-Zoning Make Housing More Affordable? (July 17, 2019)
Making neighborhoods denser is an idea with growing appeal. The question is whether it works. More from Governing.

Online Records: Why CMS Backups Don’t Meet Government Requirements (July 16, 2019)
With more and more content existing online, governments have jumped on the opportunity to use their websites and social media pages as tools for branding and communication with the public. More from NACo.

Public Works Compensation Report and Salary Calculator (July 12, 2019)
An American Public Works Association 2018 study reveals results on work-life benefits, insurance, and more. More from ICMA Blog.

How 3 Innovative Cities Make Budgets Easy (July 11, 2019)
Implementing principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration around a government’s budget offers great return on investment. More from ICMA Blog.

Ridesharing Picks Up Unexpected Passengers: Florida Seniors (July 10, 2019)
An automated middleman is bridging transportation gaps for seniors without smartphones by connecting them with app-driven ridesharing services. The tool has gained popularity with non-driving seniors. More from Government Technology.

Just How Common Are Body Cameras in Police Departments? (July 9, 2019)
There's not much in the way of hard numbers, but a solid guess based on surveys would be that a little more than half of all law enforcement agencies in the U.S. use body-worn cameras in some capacity. More from Government Technology.

Evidence-Based Policymaking Resource Center (July 8, 2019)
State and local government leaders can use the Pew-MacArthur evidence-based policymaking resource center to explore new ideas, identify promising practices, and inform their own strategies for creating a more effective government.

How Public Employers Are Reevaluating the Employee Review (July 5, 2019)
Local governments are changing the frequency of performance evaluations, who receives them and what they're assessing. More from Governing

How to Stay Connected During Natural Disasters (July 3, 2019)
Why land mobile radio continues to be the backbone for critical communications. More from Emergency Management

Ransomware, the Price Is Going Up! (July 2, 2019)
Shakespeare never had the "to pay or not to pay" in any of his plays, but today cities, counties, hospitals, companies — you name it — are grappling with the question about ransomware. More from Government Technology

Houston's First Driverless Shuttle Now Rolling at TSU (July 1, 2019)
An operator is on the vehicle at all times, though officials have said that the intent is for the shuttle to operate as autonomously as possible throughout all three phases of the pilot project. More from Government Technology

Affordable Housing for Minimum Wage Workers Doesn’t Exist (June 28, 2019)
In 99 percent of U.S. counties, minimum wage can’t get you an affordable one-bedroom rental. More from Curbed.

ICMA Podcast: How to Best Your Budget (June 27, 2019)
Budget season can be intimidating. ICMA members share stories of personal resilience while maneuvering the budgeting process. More from ICMA.

Smart Cities: The Future Of Urban Development (June 26, 2019)
While the ideas of “Smart Cities” has been proposed as the future of urbanism, the question remains: how do we connect this new technology for the ultimately "efficient" society? More from Forbes.

Why Should Your Jurisdiction Have a Facebook Group? (June 25, 2019)
Public-sector social media professionals are using Facebook’s Groups feature to generate increased reach and organic conversation that’s not always achievable on the platform with a simple government page. More from Government Technology.

A Year After Online Sales Tax Ruling, Are States Reaping More Revenues? (June 24, 2019)
Almost every state has jumped at the opportunity to tax online purchases. More from Governing.

The Hard Questions About Staying Safe in City Hall (June 20, 2019)
After the Virginia Beach shooting, cities struggle with providing security for municipal employees while still welcoming the public they serve. More from CityLab.

Assessing the Evolving Risks to State, Local Election Systems (June 19, 2019)
A new report from a Stanford University research group looks to prescribe defense solutions for state and local governments in the event of potential manipulation attempts by foreign powers. More from Government Technology.

2 Key Things Cities Should Know About the Baltimore Ransomware Attack (June 18, 2019)
Is your city vulnerable? Here’s two key things to know about the Baltimore ransomware attack. More from EfficientGov.

New Regulations Grind Hiring to a Halt for Uber and Lyft (June 12, 2019)
New York City set standards for transportation network companies, and now those companies are being a lot more selective about who they hire as drivers. More from Politico.

The Future of Urban Transportation Will be Holistic (June 11, 2019)
Cities need to evolve towards a mobility plan that interconnects walking with biking, public transit, and ride-sharing. To do that will require tech, partnerships and collaboration, say experts. More from Government Technology.

Denver Police to Test GPS Dart System to Track Fleeing Cars (June 10, 2019)
To reduce the danger posed by high-speed chases, the department will be testing adhesive GPS trackers that can be fired onto a fleeing vehicle from a compressed air cannon mounted on patrol cars. More from Government Technology.

Where ‘Returning Citizens’ Find Housing After Prison (June 7, 2019)
There is a housing crisis among the formerly incarcerated, particularly among those recently released from prison. More from Route Fifty.

Shifting into an Era of Repair: US Infrastructure Spending Trends (June 6, 2019)
As the country debates the next great wave of infrastructure investment, it’s important to take stock of spending patterns from the recent past. More from Brookings.

Questions About City Services? In These Places, Turn to Alexa. (June 5, 2019)
Increasing numbers of state and local governments are allowing residents to query Amazon's Alexa for information about services and sometimes even make requests. More from Route Fifty.

How Local Governments Can Overcome IT Hiring Challenges (June 4, 2019)
City and county governments need to get creative and be more flexible to lure in young tech talent. More from StateTech.

WA Cities Will Get 'Free Money' From the State for Affordable Housing (June 3, 2019)
A new fund will let cities and counties keep $51 million in sales tax revenue for low-income housing construction and maintenance. More from Crosscut.

Mayors Appear Increasingly Concerned About Infrastructure (May 31, 2019)
More than half of mayors discussed it during their annual State of the City addresses this year -- double the number four years ago. More from Governing

What Colorado learned from treating a cyberattack like a disaster (May 30, 2019)
In response to the February 2018 SamSam ransomware virus on the Colorado Department of Transportation Colorado created a new model for state and local governments dealing with cyberattacks in handling it like it would a natural disaster. More from StateScoop

Why a County Eliminated Degree Requirements for 82 Types of Jobs (May 29, 2019)
Applicants for about 80 different types of local government jobs with Boulder County, Colorado will no longer have to meet higher education degree requirements that were previously in place. More from Route Fifty

From McMansion to McMain Street (May 23, 2019)
Like the McMansion, the McMain Street attempts to mimic the complex roof massing of many buildings in a single building. Here are ideas on better ways to preserve or create Main Street character. More from Public Square.

Planners Adjust as Infrastructure Evolves With Tech (May 22, 2019)
Technology is evolving the ways we commute and communicate. How is the evolution of new infrastructure influencing the physical shared space around us, and the way it is managed? More from APA Blog.

Report: Regulating Commercial Cannabis & Community Impacts (May 21, 2019)
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has produced a report, The Local Impacts of Commercial Cannabis, addressing the implications of commercial cannabis of interest to all communities considering legalization. More from EfficientGov.

What to Consider When Budgeting Cloud Migration at the Municipal Level (May 20, 2019)
Learn how calculating costs and forecasting future savings when budgeting cloud migration can help your local government realize tech modernization. More from EfficientGov.

The Malware Threat to Law Enforcement (May 15, 2019)
Law enforcement interaction with malware cannot be limited to the pursuit of cybercriminals and conducting takedowns against criminal infrastructure; malware poses a critical yet often underestimated threat to law enforcement agencies around the globe. More from The Police Chief.

'Phone Addicts' Are the New Drunk Drivers, Report Says (May 14, 2019)
An analysis of driver behavior data found that drivers are growing more distracted by their devices. More from Route Fifty.

No Pilot, No Play: Santa Fe Takes a Stand on E-Scooters (May 13, 2019)
The popular on-demand transportation has caught many local governments off guard, but the New Mexico city is drawing a hard line, disallowing them altogether unless the council approves a two-year pilot. More from Government Technology.

LAPD Pulls Plug on Another Data-Driven Crime Program (May 10, 2019)
Inconsistent data is being cited as the reason for the department's discontinuation of Operation LASER, which used algorithms to predict the areas where gun violence was likely to occur. More from Government Technology.

Seattle Innovation Council Tackles Homelessness, Social Services in First Projects (May 9, 2019)
Seattle’s Innovation Advisory Council, created by Mayor Jenny Durkan last August as a way to leverage the region’s technical talent against local issues, has announced seven technology projects it plans to implement. More from Statescoop.

Building a Map to Help Care for Vulnerable Residents (May 8, 2019)
San Bernardino County, California, uses a survey and mapping tool to connect homeless people with support services. More from Route Fifty.

Seattle Study: Pedestrians Linger on Sidewalks, But Rarely Sit Down (May 7, 2019)
A new study from the Seattle Department of Transportation shows that the vast majority of sidewalk users do not take advantage of city-provided seating, preferring standing (61 percent) or simply leaning on walls or using makeshift chairs (11 percent). More from Streets Blog.

New Guide Helps Cities Navigate Micromobility Landscape (May 6, 2019)
The National League of Cities (NLC) recently released a new guide, “Micromobility in Cities: A History and Policy Overview” designed for local leaders learning how to best integrate micromobility options — like e-scooters and bikeshares — into their communities. More from NLC.

$600 Million Available for Rural Broadband (May 3, 2019)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it will begin accepting the first round of applications for the Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect Program). More from NACo's County News.

Award-Winning Pullman Police Drone Program Takes Flight (May 2, 2019)
The City of Pullman has received an Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award from the Alliance for Innovation for its Police Department drone program. More from Municipal World.

To Tackle Complex Problems, Escape Your Coworkers (May 1, 2019)
Slack and in-person teamwork are great, but you should probably close your office door once in awhile, too. More from Route Fifty.

Why Orientation is Needed for All Members in Local Government (April 30, 2019)
An orientation is needed for all councilmembers, not simply those who are the most recently elected. More from ICMA Blog.

Financially Stable Capital Planning (April 29, 2019)
To make its budget sustainable, a local government needs to take a long-term view. This is especially true for capital investment. More from Government Finance Review.

Shortage of Volunteer Firefighters Threatens Fire Departments' Existence (April 25, 2019)
Without enough volunteers to respond to emergencies, some fire departments are cutting services or even shutting down. Most are changing the way they recruit. More from Governing.

Don’t Confuse Effort with Progress or Output with Outcomes (April 24, 2019)
Effectiveness and success are about progress, not effort. They’re about outcome, not output. More from NACo's County News.

Aging and in Need of Attention: America’s Infrastructure and its 17 Million Workers (April 23, 2019)
Just as our physical infrastructure systems are aging and in need of attention, so too are the workers who design, construct, operate, and oversee these systems. More from Brookings.

Scooters Are Proof Positive Government, Industry Can Collaborate (April 22, 2019)
The relationship between the public and private mobility sectors will likely continue to evolve as the public gains an increasing affinity for scooters, bikes and other transportation modes. More from Government Technology.

UniverCity Program Blends Student Research With Local Government Challenges (April 19, 2019)
A University of Wisconsin-Madison program that connects students and faculty with local governments to solve problems is going outside of the Madison area for the first time. More from Wisconsin Public Radio.

Manage This - Promoting Volunteerism to Your Community’s Retirees (April 18, 2019)
While volunteers can be almost every age, it is important that local government leaders begin to focus on the growing and largely untapped wave of baby boomer retirees. More from PM Magazine.

$70M in COPS Office Grants Announced for 2019 (April 16, 2019)
Hundreds of agencies across the country will be applying for these grants – many more than the COPS Office is able to fund. More from EfficientGov.

Not all of us can ride a scooter. Here's a plan to get everyone where they need to go. (April 12, 2019)
New hubs will connect Columbus commuters to buses, rideshares, rental cars, bikes, and, yes OK, scooters. More from Popular Science.

Police Leverage Civilian Home Cameras as ‘Force Multiplier’ (April 10, 2019)
Law enforcement in the communities of Middletown and West Chester, Ohio, are asking residents to register their security cameras so officers can quickly request footage in the event of a crime. More from Government Technology.

TED Talk: Public art that turns cities into playgrounds of the imagination (April 9, 2019)
Visual artist Helen Marriage stages astonishing, large-scale public art events that expand the boundaries of what's possible. More from TED.

Why Police Recruiters Must Work Smarter (Not Harder) (April 8, 2019)
Law enforcement agencies want recruits that understand and are willing to undertake certain risks. They may have to start looking in new places. More from PoliceOne.com

How to Get More Women into Local Government Management Positions (April 5, 2019)
Women make up a mere 20 percent of Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) at local governments. Will this ever change — and if so, how? More from GovLoop.

Stop Trying to Solve Traffic and Start Building Great Places (April 4, 2019)
If we start to measure our cities and suburbs differently, we can design solutions that ultimately create better places for people, not just their cars. More from Brookings.

County Jail Uses Video Visitation to Keep Inmates Connected (April 3, 2019)
The jail has implemented two video visitation solutions, one remote and one on-site. On top of letting inmates stay in touch with people who will help them reintegrate upon leaving, the system could help save work hours. More from Government Technology.

Why Pedestrian Deaths Are At A 30-Year High (April 2, 2019)
Across the U.S., 6,227 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in 2018, the highest number in nearly 30 years. More from NPR.

Timeline Gets Tight for 2020 Census (March 28, 2019)
The 2020 census is coming in a matter of months, not years, and time is running out for counties to be ready. More from NACo's County News.

Can Street Sweepers Do More than Just Clean Streets? (March 27, 2019)
Fort Collins, Colo., is experimenting with smart city technology on five of its street sweepers, which send back data related to travel routes, low-hanging limbs or poorly parked cars. More from Government Technology.

$500K Grants for Suicide Prevention Pilots in Juvenile Justice System (March 26, 2019)
Federal public health grants are funding suicide and self-harm intervention and deterrence pilot programs for the juvenile justice system. More from EfficientGov.

Satisfying Surveys (March 25, 2019)
Does your local government conduct resident surveys? Have you ever used surveys for evidence in decision making? If you answered “no” to these questions, keep reading to find out how a survey can improve your community and the services it provides. More from Public Management.

Report: Stronger State-Local Partnerships Needed for Solutions to Housing Crisis (March 22, 2019)
The National League of Cities (NLC) recently released “Local Tools to Address Housing Affordability: A State-by-State Analysis,” to uncover how states interact with cities on key housing policies and the level of authority they provide to cities to implement proven strategies. More from NLC.

The Benefits and Challenges of Needle Exchange Programs (March 21, 2019)
The CDC shows participants in syringe exchange programs are more likely to enter drug treatment programs and more likely to stop injecting drugs, but the programs don't increase drug consumption. More from NACo's County News.

Study: Jails Can Play Role in Breaking Cycle of Opioid Deaths (March 20, 2019)
A Hennepin County, Minn. study shows that more than a third of the opioid deaths occurred within a year of being released from custody. More from NACo's County News.

Rural Counties Face Challenges and High Stakes in 2020 Census (March 19, 2019)
With nearly $900 billion in annual federal funding at stake, an accurate census is crucial to any county. More from NACo's County News.

All the Bad Things About Uber and Lyft In One Simple List (March 18, 2019)
Ride-hailing companies have yet to deliver on many of the transportation system improvements that they, and their supporters, have been promising. More from StreetsBlog.

Philadelphia Adopts Smart City Road Map (March 14, 2019)
The document gives the city a foundation for evaluating how technology can improve the lives of residents, serve economic development efforts or other civic purposes. More from Government Technology.

Portland Calls Out Lyft’s Attempt to Avoid City Rules (March 13, 2019)
The city’s mayor and transportation commissioner say the rideshare company is behind a proposed bill to “eliminate local consumer, safety and disability-access protections” for riders. More from Government Technology.

Where Public Sector Union Membership Is Shrinking and Growing (March 12, 2019)
Newly released employment numbers show a small decline last year in the rate of public sector union membership. More from Route Fifty.

E-Scooter Ride-Share Industry Leaves Injuries and Angered Cities in its Path (March 11, 2019)
A Consumer Reports investigation finds 1,500 e-scooter injuries across the country, and many hospitals still don’t track them. More from Consumer Reports.

Looking Back on Three Years of Transit Investment in Seattle (March 8, 2019)
The Seattle Transportation Benefit District has led to a growth in ridership and improved access to frequent service, according to a third-year performance report. More from The Urbanist.

How Climate Will Change in Cities across the U.S. (March 6, 2019)
A new tool compares what the climate of towns will be in 2080 to various locations today. More from Scientific American.

Can Upzoning Increase Housing Supply and Affordability? (March 5, 2019)
Increasing allowable densities and reducing parking requirements are important strategies for achieving long-term planning goals, but to succeed they must be applied to large areas. More from Planetizen.

Habitat for Humanity’s Bold Plan to Redevelop a Mobile Home Park (March 4, 2019)
The planned mixed-income neighborhood will have affordable homeownership and small business opportunities for current mobile home park residents. More from Curbed.

Last Year Was the Deadliest for Pedestrians Since 1990 (March 1, 2019)
Pedestrian deaths continue to climb, even as other traffic fatalities decline. Nearly half of the deaths occurred in just five states. More from Governing.

USDA Launches Rural Broadband Toolkit to Boost Expansion (February 28, 2019)
A new suite of tools is available for rural communities trying to make inroads to high-speed Internet service. The kit includes access to grants, loans and technical assistance programs. More from Government Technology.

Civic Engagement Means More Than Gathering Data (February 27, 2019)
Why listening to residents and building ownership are critical. More from Public Management.

Police Departments Waive Tattoo Bans, Enlist Wookiees to Fill Ranks (February 26, 2019)
There's currently an officer shortage at many police departments across the country. More from Route Fifty.

Drones. AI. Bodycams. Is Technology Making Us Safer? (February 25, 2019)
Across the country, law enforcement agencies are using emerging tech to gather an unprecedented amount of data to drive down crime statistics. But are their efforts actually making a difference? More from Government Technology.

Colorado Convenes County Leaders on Evidence-Based Policymaking (February 22, 2019)
Focus is on challenges, opportunities in making decisions backed by research. More from PEW

Despite City's Efforts, Seattle Police Force is Shrinking (February 19, 2019)
After the city force shrunk by 41 officers last year, Mayor Durkan is scrambling to recruit with $15,000 bonuses. More from Crosscut.

City Planning Technology, 2019 Benchmarking Study (February 14, 2019)
A report on the current state of Internet technologies, policies, and content management systems adopted by 600 cities across the United States, including recommended steps cities should take to improve technology assets in 2019. More from Planetizen.

Using Nudges and Shoves to Encourage Better Transportation Choices (February 13, 2019)
Yes, you can close a major urban highway and the world won’t end. More from Route Fifty.

Helping Your Older Population When a Disaster Strikes (February 12, 2019)
This Q&A with Nick Boukas, preparedness director at the National Association of County and City Health Officials, describes the particular vulnerability of older adults and people with disabilities during disasters and how county health departments can work to protect them. More from NACo's County News.

Clark County Faces Daunting Task Tracking Measles (February 11, 2019)
Police on a month-long stakeout have it easier than the Clark County Public Health Department right now. More from NACo's County News.

People Aren’t Walking More. But More Pedestrians Are Getting Killed. (February 7, 2019)
The trend appears to be especially troublesome in the South, and for minorities and lower-income communities. More from Route Fifty.

From Fire Sprinklers to Surveillance Cameras, the Hwy 99 Tunnel Is Loaded with Safety Features (February 6, 2019)
The need for preparedness was driven home last month, when a charter bus carrying the Stanford University track team burst into flames on northbound Interstate 5 near Columbian Way. What if a vehicle catches fire in the tunnel? More from Emergency Management.

Sammamish Declares Emergency After Cyberattack (February 4, 2019)
The ransomware attack Jan. 23 forced city computers to be taken offline and prompted an emergency declaration from interim City Manager Larry Patterson. The extent of the damage is not yet known. More from Government Technology.

Seattle’s Population Is Booming, Except for Where It’s Shrinking (February 1, 2019)
Since 2010, Seattle has added more than 100,000 new residents — but you may not be able to tell by looking around at the housing stock in most of the city. More from Next City.

Oregon Offers New Online Resource for Potential Flooding Around the State (January 31, 2019)
The tool includes an interactive map and a list of how many stream gauges are expected to be nearing flood stage, or have minor flooding, moderate flooding or major flooding. More from Emergency Management.

10 Things to Know About Government Reorganizations (January 30, 2019)
The “soft” stuff turns out to be the hard stuff. More from Route Fifty.

Big Earthquake Would Topple Countless Buildings, but Many Cities Ignore the Danger (January 29, 2019)
Some cities have taken significant steps to make those buildings safer by requiring costly retrofitting aimed at protecting those inside and preserving the housing supply. But many others have ignored the seismic threat. More from Emergency Management.

2019 Trend: Digital Government Gone Mobile (January 28, 2019)
Citizens want access to government services anywhere, any time and on any device. That’s why governments must consider mobile website design in 2019. More from EfficientGov.

USDA Announced $600 Million for Rural Broadband (January 25, 2019)
The USDA’s ReConnect Program plans to expand the use of rural broadband Internet to areas that currently lack high-speed connectivity. More from EfficientGov.

Building Trust: Top Tips to Improve Police Engagement (January 24, 2019)
Check out suggestions on how to prepare police officers to engage with their community. More from ICMA Blog.

Quake Early-Warning App Now Available to Anyone in Los Angeles (January 23, 2019)
Making seismic alerts available to the public has been a priority for Mayor Eric Garcetti. More from Route Fifty.

Undertakers of Last Resort: Indigent Burials on the Rise, Denting County Budgets (January 22, 2019)
Indigent burials are on the rise in many parts of the country, and counties are usually the final stop for the poor, homeless or unclaimed when it comes to paying the bill for cremations, funeral services or burials. More from NACo's County News.

The Top 19 Public Safety Predictions for 2019 (January 17, 2019)
School safety, active shooter, mental health and other challenges will shape the coming year in public safety operations and service delivery. More from EfficientGov.

10 Challenges that will Define Cities in 2019 (January 16, 2019)
From homelessness and housing to big tech and budgets, the forces shaping urbanism in the coming year. More from Curbed.

NRPA Exec Offers Predictions for Parks and Rec (January 14, 2019)
Parks and recreation agencies in 2019 will continue to confront the opioid crisis, spend more on infrastructure, embrace esports and will struggle with what to do with waste given an unfavorable recycling industry. More from Parks & Recreation.

The Year in Review (January 11, 2019)
2018 was a year of ups and downs. From NIMBY battles to natural disasters, from elections to electric scooters, the stories that dominated the headlines are sure to resonate in 2019 and beyond. More from CityLab.

Customer Service Technology Solves Problems for Citizens (January 10, 2019)
Charleston County, S.C. became the first county in the United States to launch an interactive chatbot-driven customer service system — all through text messages — this past June. More from NACo's County News.

Can US Cities Help the World Achieve Sustainable Development Goals? (January 9, 2019)
Despite a crisis of confidence at the national level, a significant majority of Americans still believe in the ability of their local governments to deliver. More from Brookings.

Can Minneapolis’s Radical Rezoning Be a National Model? (January 7, 2019)
Here’s what a plan to tackle climate change, density, and affordability looks like. More from Curbed.

Commentary: Drones Can be Enjoyed in Parks (January 4, 2019)
Drones have potential that parks and recreation agencies should explore, even if there are concerns such as safety and noise pollution. More from Parks & Recreation.

A Tough Question in California: Whether to Rebuild in Places That Will Burn Again (January 3, 2019)
Despite the clear and present dangers of the wildland-urban interface, many vow to rebuild in risky spots. More from Route Fifty.

Here's How City Governments Spend Their IT Budgets (January 2, 2019)
Counties and cities look fairly distinct from one another. More from Government Technology.

The Future of Aging Just Might Be in Margaritaville (December 20, 2018)
At the Jimmy Buffett-branded community, a hint at how an increasingly long-lived species might choose to spend its extra decades. More from The New York Times Magazine.

Nearly Half of U.S. Cities Have Fewer Than 1,000 Residents (December 19, 2018)
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the vast majority of cities in this country are small. In fact, most would be better described as "teeny tiny." Here's a look at the number of cities by population category. More from Government Technology.

A Potential Turning Point in How Cities Treat the Homeless (December 18, 2018)
A recent federal ruling is driving cities to revisit their local ordinances and methods of reducing homelessness. More from Governing.

Everett Adopts Rezones Topping Out at 25 Stories (December 17, 2018)
In September, the Everett City Council adopted a comprehensive overhaul to zoning and development regulations in Downtown Everett and several adjacent districts. More from The Urbanist.

Railroad Crossings Are Dangerous and Ripe for Disruption (December 14, 2018)
How we keep people on foot and in cars from getting hit by trains hasn't changed much in the last century. More from Route Fifty.

When Rehiring Retired Public Workers, Guidelines Can Be Key (December 13, 2018)
New research takes a look at post-retirement employment policies in states across the U.S. More from Route Fifty.

A Growing Need for Aging-in-Place Services in Suburbs and Rural Areas (December 12, 2018)
A new Harvard study found that the share of older adults living in low-density metro census tracts grew by more than 6 million people from 2000 to 2016. More from Route Fifty.

Study: Seattle, Suburbs Would Lose all Water Pressure Within 24 Hours of Catastrophic Earthquake (December 11, 2018)
A new study says Seattle would lose all water pressure within 24 hours of a catastrophic quake and would need at least two months to entirely restore water service in the city. More from Emergency Management.

With Pilot Coming to a Close, E-Scooter Companies Lobby to Stay in Portland, Ore. (December 10, 2018)
Bird, Lime and Skip are asking officials to let them stick around past the close of a four-month trial period, but the city seems to be holding firmly against the idea. More from Government Technology.

Five Trends in Police Body Camera Legislation (December 6, 2018)
As more law enforcement agencies nationwide use police body-worn cameras, states are developing and refining policy guidance. More from The Urban Institute.

To P3 or Not to P3 (December 5, 2018)
Public-private partnerships (P3s) can bring substantial benefits and value to the procurement, delivery, operation, and maintenance of public infrastructure —although care needs to be taken. More from Government Finance Review.

Smartphone App Streamlines Remote Inmate Visitation (December 4, 2018)
Inmates at Northumberland County Prison in Pennsylvania have access to a new video call option that allows them to connect with loved ones without the need for an onsite visit. More from Government Technology.

Applying Design Thinking to Public Service Delivery (December 3, 2018)
A new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, Applying Design Thinking To Public Service Delivery, focuses on the expanding use of design thinking in government to transform how agencies engage citizens, enhance operations, and innovate across a broad spectrum of public management challenges.

Why Cities Don't Care Anymore About How Hard It Is to Find Parking (November 30, 2018)
Hoping to spur more economic development, cities are eliminating requirements for new buildings to have parking. More from Governing.

FCC Decision on 5G Wireless Raises Flags for Local Planning (November 29, 2018)
The FCC has issued a two-part order seeking to streamline the deployment of small cell infrastructure, raising concerns over the preemption of local control. More from APA Blog.

DOT Updates Guidance on Autonomous Vehicles (November 27, 2018)
In a report titled Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has provided new voluntary guidance, policy clarification and best practices for stakeholders to better prepare for automated vehicles.

New Guide Helps Rural Counties Fight Opioid Crisis (November 26, 2018)
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the Rural Resource Guide to Help Communities Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse. More from NACo's County News.

Preparing Local Governments for the Next Cyberattack (November 21, 2018)
While local governments have developed comprehensive emergency management plans, few of these plans address elements of response and recovery that are unique to cyber incidents. More from Public Management.

Top Tips for Police Recruitment and Hiring (November 20, 2018)
Check out these top recommendations for recruiting and hiring police officers based on ICMA 2018 survey research. More from ICMA Blog.

Small Town, Big Need: Making Multifamily Projects Work in Rural Communities (November 16, 2018)
While perhaps not as obvious as in urban geographies, small communities require a range of housing options, including rental projects that offer access to jobs, transit, health care, and community amenities. More from Urban Land.

FCC Could Slash County Franchise Fees (November 15, 2018)
Counties would stand to lose millions of dollars if cable TV franchise fees are cut under a deregulation proposal being considered by the FCC. More from NACo's County News.

Photos: Wildfires Are Decimating California Cities (November 14, 2018)
Northern California’s Camp Fire has destroyed thousands of homes and claimed many lives. Meanwhile, the Southern California Woolsey Fire has left much of Malibu under mandatory evacuation. More from CityLab.

How Police Use of Body Camera Footage Has Evolved (November 13, 2018)
Evidence-based policies are up, but there’s room for improvement, according to the Urban Institute. More from Route Fifty.

Answer These 11 Questions to Understand if You’re a Good Manager (November 8, 2018)
Managers should think about these metrics when measuring success. More from Route Fifty.

Addressing the “Missing Middle” in the Housing Market (November 7, 2018)
Addressing the lack of affordable housing for the middle class is one of the biggest opportunities—and sources of frustration—for homebuilders. More from Urban Land.

When Is a Public/Private Partnership the Right Choice? (November 6, 2018)
A new online Public Infrastructure Decision Tree provides guidance to state and local government officials. More from Urban Land.

Paid Family Leave Toolkit (November 2, 2018)
The State Department of Employment Security just released a new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program Employer Toolkit. This toolkit is intended to help anyone with employees in Washington know how to prepare for this new program and to help you inform your employees about what to expect.

Building a Solid Brand Is Not Just for the Private Sector (November 1, 2018)
It is an opportunity to amplify your community's strengths. More from Route Fifty.

Philadelphia’s Internal Innovation Grants Are Fostering New Ideas (October 31, 2018)
Philadelphia recently awarded a series of grants, most of which totaled around $7,500, to innovative projects and ideas that came straight from the public servants who work daily in the local government. More from Government Technology.

San Diego Looks at ‘Geofencing’ to Slow E-Scooters (October 30, 2018)
Virtual perimeters could help improve safety. More from Route Fifty.

Cities Tell Airbnb to Make Room for Affordable Housing (October 25, 2018)
Affordable housing advocates maintain that stocks of traditional rental housing are being hurt by the growing short-term rental market. More from PEW Blog.

Snapshots of America’s Homelessness Crisis in 4 Cities (October 24, 2018)
From Seattle to Akron to Los Angeles and Minneapolis, here’s how local leaders and others are trying to provide shelter—or deny shelter—to those who desperately need stable housing. More from Route Fifty.

Cybersecurity Expert: Learn From Atlanta’s Mistakes (with 8 Actions) (October 23, 2018)
A ransomware attack crippled the city of Atlanta. The following eight actions, including prevention, can help cities prepare for cybersecurity threats. More from EfficientGov.

San José and Airbnb Partner to Provide Emergency Temporary Housing (October 19, 2018)
After severe flooding last year, the city hopes to have shelter lined up ahead of time for the next disaster. More from Route Fifty.

People Over Parking (October 17, 2018)
Planners are reevaluating parking requirements for affordable housing. More from Planning.

Shared Service Agreements Require Governments to Work Together (October 16, 2018)
Alternative service delivery that involves shared services requires governments working together to achieve shared policy objectives and services. More from NACos' County News.

Seattle Pushes Back Against FCC’s 5G Ruling (October 15, 2018)
The city is calling the federal action to establish limits on how much cities can charge telecom providers an “overreach.” More from Government Technology.

Seattle Announces Plans to Transition to an Electric and Green Fleet (October 12, 2018)
The city will also reduce the size of its vehicle fleet by 10 percent and is committed to eliminating all fossil fuel vehicles by 2030. More from Government Technology.

FCC Curtails Local Authority in Vote to Speed 5G Deployment (October 11, 2018)
The Federal Communications Commission voted Sept. 26 to limit local governments’ timeframes and fees in an effort to speed the siting of small cell wireless infrastructure necessary for the 5G network. More from NACo's County News.

We Interrupt This Budget (October 10, 2018)
If your county’s annual budget process reminds you of watching reruns of “Gilligan’s Island” — a bunch of smart people stuck on the same pile of sand who just keep missing the boat — maybe it’s time to change the channel. More from NACo's County News.

Supporting an Aging Government Workforce with Mentoring and Offboarding (October 9, 2018)
As the workforce grows older, local governments need to think of how best to handle the transition to the next generation. More from ICMA Blog.

Why Transit Nerds are so Jealous of Seattle (October 8, 2018)
The city’s tweeting traffic engineer explains how small changes to streets are adding up to big improvements. More from Curbed.

Five Takeaways for Cities from the FCC’s Small Cell Preemption Order (October 5, 2018)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently voted to enact harsh new preemptions of local authority over small cell wireless facility deployment and management of local rights-of-way. More from NLC.

NLC's 2018 City Fiscal Conditions Report (October 3, 2018)
The National League of Cities (NLC) 2018 City Fiscal Conditions survey indicates that slightly more finance officers than last year are optimistic about the fiscal capacity of their cities. More from NLC.

Where Will Online Orders get Fulfilled? The Changing Local Geography of E-Commerce (October 2, 2018)
As more shoppers go online, the country’s retail landscape is changing rapidly. More from Brookings.

When Cities Rely on Civil and Criminal Fines and Fees, Everybody Loses (October 1, 2018)
Despite the short-term boosts civil and criminal fines and fees appear to bring, the long-term cost to cities, states and their residents is likely to be far greater. More from Governing.

Develop a Hashtag Strategy Before a Crisis Strikes (September 28, 2018)
Emergencies require a hashtag strategy. These time-tested tips can help local governments craft their crisis communications on social media. More from EfficientGov.

How Dutch Stormwater Management Could Have Mitigated Damage From Hurricane Florence (September 27, 2018)
The world's only water ambassador, appointed by the Netherlands, says damage from hurricanes could be lessened with the help of Dutch-innovated stormwater management. More from CBS News.

Planning Resilient Urban Forests with i-Tree Landscape (September 26, 2018)
i-Tree Landscape is a free geographic tool that uses tree information to aid local and regional planning for more resilient communities. More from APA Blog.

Employee Trust Contributes to Financial Health (September 25, 2018)
Trust among the individuals who make up a local government is essential for the organization’s financial sustainability. More from Government Finance Review.

9 cities with Smart Ideas to Improve Transportation (September 24, 2018)
From planning for walkable neighborhoods to autonomous transit, how some U.S. cities plan to upgrade public transit. More from Curbed.

CityLab University: Inclusionary Zoning (September 21, 2018)
You’ve seen the term. But do you really know what it means? Here’s your essential primer. More from City Lab.

Who Rents Their Home in America? Here’s What the Data Says. (September 20, 2018)
Many homeownership trends have remained largely the same since 1960—with a few noteworthy shifts. More from CityLab.

Who Should Pay for a City’s Homelessness Crisis? (September 19, 2018)
California cities are angling to charge big business for housing, after a notable failure in Seattle. They might have a better shot. More from CityLab.

After Insurance Requirements Drove Them Apart, Rideshares Return to Oregon Cities (September 17, 2018)
Uber and Lyft have both filed applications to operate in Eugene, following a lengthy service blackout. More from Government Technology.

Ask an ICMA Manager: What Are the Best Interview Questions for a Police Chief? (August 28, 2018)
Lee Feldman, City Manager of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, shares seven questions he asks police chief candidates during the interview process. More from ICMA Blog.